driftwood cleaning

[Wes Leitch]

I recently returned from PEI with a large stash of driftwood. I was going to powerwash them. However my favorite piece is far more fragile than the rest. Should I brush it, or is there another cleaning method I should use.

[Cottonwood]

I use a brush and Murphy's Oil Soap.

[BRIAN D]

Couple of years back, my wife and I found a fairly large amount of drift wood. Washed it with a garden hose and then laid it out to dry, small pieces on a large piece of fencing laid flat to allow the air to get all around it. Turned pieces over, over several days, till dry, was well worth the effort. Just clean water and no pressure. Hope it helps! Lots of good carving. BRIAN D.

[tnartist05]

Brain,funny you posted this about drift wood! I had several pieces Id picked up in our river here in my area. I had it drying for sometime,then Sat I had to shave off the old dried bark that was still on it and sand it down. Just finish some trout on it Sat and painted it Sunday afternoon. Will post it in a min. Forrest

P.S some old drift wood is fragile and brittle,had some like that before also. if you are going to carve it,be carefull. I dont mind a hard wood but I hate carving then hitting a soft spot,theres where you can get cut.